28 goodreading ı SEPTEMBER 2008 Everything about books www.goodreadingmagazine.com ONLINE word of mouth This section gives you an entertaining introduction to some of the books available this month, reviewed by famous names and new voices, all of them passionate readers, just like you. Each book has been given a star rating, and RG indicates those books suitable for reading groups. You can write your own reviews of any of the books in this section at www.goodreadingmagazine.com and share your opinions with other gr readers. ★ Disappointing ★★ Worth a read ★★★ A good read ★★★★ Highly recommended ★★★★★ Outstanding RG Recommended for reading groups The 19th Wife David Ebershoff Although it’s as old as the Bible (Exodus 21:10), polygamy has been a subject of whispers and innuendo until very recently, when it’s suddenly on the front pages of the world’s newspapers. It’s become a topic of talkback radio because of the continuing practice by breakaway sects of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints – Mormons – to take multiple wives. It has also become a hot topic in Australia recently, after a few Muslim leaders suggested the practice be recognised legally. So David Ebershoff ’s wonderful novel The 19th Wife is timely, to say the least, and his publisher couldn’t have chosen a better author or a better subject for its next bestseller. Ebershoff ’s latest novel deals with the controversy of polygamy in the early days of the Mor mons in America. It is set against a moder n-day detective drama in which the 19th wife of an heretical sect member is accused of his brutal murder. Brilliantly combining historical documents and working symmetrically in two time periods, Ebershoff has given us a huge book, full of fascinating cultural detail, which defines the psychological stresses upon whole communities which are subject to the interpretation by their powerful leaders of ancient Biblical customs. ★★★★★ RG Doubleday $32.95 Reviewed by Alan Gold Man in the Dark Paul Auster Awelcome return to form, Auster’s new novel continues his preoccupation with literary games and stories within stories.The ‘Man in the Dark’ is August Brill, an ageing literary critic plagued by insomnia who tells himself stories to keep his mind off an unmentioned sadness in his past. He lives with his daughter, a divorcée, and granddaughter, who is recovering from the horrific murder of her boyfriend. His story concer ns Owen Brick, a man who wakes up in a strange parallel America where civil war is tearing the country apart, 9/11 never happened, and there was no second Iraq war. Brick has been transported to this world and told tokillamanhehasnevermet–the man who is writing the story. Who, why, how? He’s also in the dark. As Brill slips in and out of his story, he considers his career as a critic, ponders the films he has been watching with his grieving granddaughter, and eventually – when she joins him – tells the tale he has been avoiding. Man in the Dark is only short, but it covers a lot of different ground: film, memory, relationships, the past, regret, hope and renewal. I want to say ‘tour de force’, but it’s probably best to just say ‘very good read’. ★★★★ RG Faber & Faber $29.95 Reviewed by Lachlan Jobbins The Warrior’s Princess Barbara Erskine This is a tale of the mystical and paranormal taking place in the past and the present. Jess, a 20th- century schoolteacher has compelling dreams about Eigon, a Celtic princess from the first century. When an act of violence to Jess is mirrored by an event in the past, Jess is convinced that she should provide assistance to Eigon and war n her of potential dangers and betrayal. The story of both young women travels from Wales to Rome. We meet lively and lovely friends, relatives and neighbours along the way including, unexpectedly, a couple of experts in the occult. The unattractive characters of Dan, a fellow teacher and Titus, a Roman soldier, also confront us. Titus is not only in the thick of ter rifying scenes in ancient Rome, such as the city ablaze and the citizens in panic, he also connives in sending Christians to the lions. Contemporary Dan is a seedy character, a control freak and slyly menacing. The modern story has the wilful Jess moving the action along and the ancient story is more measured and sedate as the wise and gifted Eigon influences events. The fate awaiting Jess is not a huge surprise, however, the implications of Eigon’s entire life are momentous. ★★★★ HarperCollins $32.99 Reviewed by Frances Love